A NEW NATION reports on Saturday said that prices of many essentials – onions, garlic, sugar, lentils and chickpeas etc. are soaring at both wholesale and retail markets in the capital and elsewhere in the country at the weekend on Friday, intensifying the sufferings of people belonging to all strata. Consumers have expressed concern over a possible hike in daily varieties and also fear that traders may manipulate the price if the government does not take immediate steps.
Prices of daily essentials have marked a significant rise last week in the city’s kitchen markets just before the month of Ramzan following disclosure of different local news media. As the prices of daily varieties are going beyond people’s reach, it would highly affect the ability of the poor and mid-level consumers across the country. House rent, children’s education expenses and the overall living cost have been increasing while the incomes of people remain unchanged. How will common consumers afford the price hike of all these essentials?
Those who are lucky to have salary raises by the government or extra legal ways for augmenting their income, the economic hardship of ordinary people does not matter. Those lucky ones are also the cause high prices of essential items.
Reports said that currently, farmers are producing around 14 lakh tonnes of onions against the annual demand of 22 lakh tonnes. The shortfall is met through imports either from India or other countries. So, the escalating rate of onion prices will briskly disrupt the normal life of shoppers. Reports also said the demand for these goods especially onions increased significantly in the last few days, and traders say it would to go up further during Ramzan with the upward trend in their prices continuing throughout the month. Surprisingly, it is only in Bangladesh where businessmen tend to take the temporary demand driven factor as an opportunity to make extra profits during the Holy Ramzan.
We shall not blame the dishonest businessmen for taking advantage of weak market regulation of the government. Because it is for the government to justify how it is helping the general public to live honestly within means. A section of our people can live fabulously, no matter how costly living is. They are flaunting their unearned wealth obtained from plundering people’s wealth.
